Slice of Life: Gratitude and grace

As I write this it is a week before Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays of the year. I am busy planning my menu and ordering amazing pies. I’m preparing beds for the family who will arrive and fun things to do while they are here. And I’m thinking of all the things I am blessed with and grateful for. I am so thankful for my husband and that we have a home our family can travel to, for my parents being able to celebrate with us this year. I’m grateful that I’m able to prepare a holiday meal with all the trimmings and that God has blessed our family this year, for the most part, with health and happiness. By the time this is printed, it will be one week past Thanksgiving. Thompson Falls’ nativity scene will be in place, and we will be deep into the heart of my next favorite season, Christmas.

While Thanksgiving provides me a time to contemplate all I am grateful for, Christmas reminds me of the promise of grace. I’ll share where the grace comes in, but first, a little history. Christmas was first established as the religious celebration of the birth of Christ. Thus, the name: Christ + Mass = Christmas. Under the rule of the Roman Emperor Constantine in 336AD, Christianity was declared to be the effective religion of the empire. And Constantine determined the birth of Christ, the center of Christianity, would be celebrated on December twenty-fifth. There are various schools of thought on why December twenty-fifth. Some believe it was to allow the masses to have something to look forward to in the middle of a dreary winter, others believe it was to weaken the focus on pagan celebrations surrounding the winter solstice. But whatever the reason, December twenty-fifth has remained the day set aside to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Since 336AD many cultural changes have occurred, altering how we celebrate the birth of Christ. While church services are the focal point for Christians, many non-traditional and non-religious customs have made a foray into the day’s celebrations. The tradition of Santa Claus is one such custom. For many Santa Claus has replaced the focal point of Christ. But who is Santa? It is believed Santa Claus is based on the life of a monk from 280AD, Saint Nick, who traveled the countryside depleting his wealth to provide for and save the commonfolk from a life of slavery and starvation. He hailed from what is current day Turkey and in many parts of the world he is honored for his good deeds on the day of his death, December sixth. A blending of Saint Nick and Jesus Christ, their compassion, care and giving, are attributed with creating the cultural character of Santa Claus.

But only Christ can give the gift of forgiveness and eternal life. And that is the difference for Christians around the world as they prepare to celebrate this most holy of holidays. And that is where grace comes in. I recall this in a poem I wrote over forty years ago:

With only God to guide me, I traveled to his house.

My hand, it shook upon the door, my heart was filled with doubt.

I stood upon the threshold; my gaze wandered inside.

I started to move forward but stumbled on my pride.

The silence, it was deafening, how could He have known?

The sins that I’d committed, yet still want me as His own.

And then my heart was filled up, remembering the loss,

Of life that Jesus gave for us, while dying on the cross.

The significance of the gift He gave, at last did set me free.

Eternal life and forgiveness, for all who do believe.

Grace. That wonderful word signifying that it’s okay to make a mistake and be forgiven. Grace, in the Christian context meaning the divine, unmerited, spontaneous favor for the forgiveness of sinners. And for me, as well as you and others, that is a pretty amazing gift.

As I move through the season of Christmas, I will strive to do so with love, generosity of spirit and a peace inside that assures me of the grace of God. And I will try to recall the reason for celebration this season. When our children were young, my husband and I started a tradition to try and keep the day Christ focused rather than gift focused. We would all gather when we woke on Christmas morning and light candles on a birthday cake, sing happy birthday to Jesus and have birthday cake for breakfast. Then we spent time opening gifts and enjoying the day. As our children have grown and started families of their own, our traditions have shifted. But the tradition of standing on faith surrounding the holiday has not changed. Whether we are traveling to see our children, or home alone for a quiet holiday, our thankfulness for the gift of Christ, and his salvation and forgiveness, does not diminish.

However you celebrate the Christmas holiday, may it be a peaceful day for you and yours. And if Christmas is not the day you celebrate, may I extend sincere wishes for a Happy Hanukkah and a cheerfully celebrated Kwanzaa. And may the coming new year be filled with gratitude and grace. Shalom.

Chelle is a recovering social worker who currently works as a licensed massage therapist at Cherry Creek Myotherapy. She moved to Montana with her husband David and two pups, Lucas and Turner, where they seek “the quiet life” amid new adventures.